Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Koshu: Putting Japanese wine on the map

Published: 21 January, 2026

Even within the UK wine trade, mention that you are off to Japan to learn more about the wines, and the comment comes back, ‘oh, rice wine, you mean sake?’. But with sake now firmly established on fine dining wine lists across Britain, a group of wine producers from Yamanashi Prefecture – the heartland of the indigenous white Koshu grape variety – believe that the time is ideal for a greater push for recognition in the ‘global shop window’ that is the UK. And with the wines ticking many on-trend boxes, being fresh and elegant, with naturally modest alcohol and just a soupçon of the exotic born of Japan origin, their food-friendly nature completes a picture of natural affinity with modern wine mores.

Koshu: Japan’s own ‘English vineyard’ shows its array of styles in the UK

Published: 26 February, 2024

Wines of Koshu returned to its physical tasting last week after a run of Covid-related hiatuses. Now in its 15th year, the event was able to properly showcase its range of styles across the still, sparkling, oaked and orange spectrum.

Wadsack and Parkinson to host virtual Koshu tasting

Published: 22 December, 2021

Harpers Wine & Spirits will be joined by two of the UK’s leading presenters to host an online tasting dedicated to the wonders of the Koshu grape, Japan's key indigenous varietal.

Friday Read: Ten years of Koshu

Published: 14 February, 2020

Koshu was virtually unknown in the UK a decade ago when the Koshu of Japan promotion began. Jo Gilbert looks at the rise of a distinctively eastern wine in a western market